Tymoshenko's faked abduction from hospital being plotted - defender

Andriy Kozhemiakin, a public defender of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, claims to possess information on preparations for faking Tymoshenko's abduction from Central Clinical Hospital No. 5 in Kharkiv to discredit the opposition.

"A group of people is said to be preparing to conduct an operation or special action to unlawfully free Yulia Tymoshenko at night or in the morning - more likely at night, because nothing would be seen. That is, these are agents provocateurs who would try to do this in order to show what the opposition or people committed to defending Yulia Tymoshenko may resort today," Kozhemiakin said at a court hearing on the United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU) Corporation on Friday.

This faked abduction could involve casualties, and those plotting this might flee and avoid punishment, he said.

Speaking to Interfax-Ukraine later in the day, Kozhemiakin said he had informed the Kharkiv regional prosecutor, the chief of the regional police department, and the chief of the regional Security Service department about his information.

"We have warned them and asked them to take a more careful approach toward security of the people staying in the hospital and security of Yulia Volodymyrivna [Tymoshenko]," Kozhemiakin said.